Hypothetical All-Australian reserves side features players who missed out on 2016 team of the year

WITH stars on every line — and a point to prove — this team of players who missed the All-Australian team would challenge the real thing.

Zach Merrett had a fantastic season. Picture: Michael Klein

WITH stars on every line — and a point to prove — this team of players who missed the All-Australian team would challenge the real thing.

Picking the official team of the year is a prestigious and thankless task, with fans quick to take exception to the selectors’ choices — especially when players from their own team are overlooked.

ALL-AUSTRALIANS: SELWOOD SKIPPER, BUDDY AND BORIS HONOURED

The selectors have put a target on their backs this year by failing to pick any players from eight clubs — Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Port Adelaide, Fremantle, North Melbourne, St Kilda and Brisbane.

All of those teams are represented in our hypothetical All-Australian reserves line-up. And we aren’t just playing nice.

Fremantle’s Lachie Neale earnt his spot by winning more disposals than any player in a home-and-away season.

Harry Taylor won the “reverse Coleman” for conceding the fewest goals (15) to direct opponents all season.

Scott Pendlebury scored more SuperCoach points this season than any player apart from Patrick Dangerfield.

Kade Simpson and Patrick Cripps would be putting selection pressure on the All-Australians.

And there have been two best-and-fairest awards held so far this season, and both winners — Zach Merrett and Jack Steven — line up for our B side.

If the two teams played each other, we’d back Kade Simpson against Toby Greene, Sam Mitchell against Josh Kennedy and Scott Pendlebury against Dan Hannebery.

Would the reserves give the real All-Australians a run for their money?

ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM 2016

B: Dane Rampe (Syd), Alex Rance (Rich), Jeremy McGovern (WCE)

HB: Heath Shaw (GWS), Daniel Talia (Adel), Corey Enright (Geel)

C: Dan Hannebery (Syd), Josh Kennedy (Syd), Rory Sloane (Adel) (VC)

HF: Toby Greene (GWS), Lance Franklin (Syd), Cyril Rioli (Haw)

F: Eddie Betts (Adel), Josh Kennedy (WCE), Tom Lynch (GCS)

Foll: Max Gawn (Melb), Patrick Dangerfield (Geel), Joel Selwood (Geel) (C)

I/C: Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Matthew Boyd (WB), Dustin Martin (Rich), Luke Parker (Syd)

ALL-AUSTRALIAN RESERVES

B: Rory Laird (Adel), Harry Taylor (Geel), Jasper Pittard (PA)

HB: Sam Docherty (Carl), Robbie Tarrant (NM), Kade Simpson (Carl)

C: Scott Pendlebury (Coll), Sam Mitchell (Haw), Adam Treloar (Coll)

HF: Dayne Zorko (BL), Nick Riewoldt (StK), Zach Merrett (Ess)

F: Tom Lynch (Adel), Jack Gunston (Haw), Josh Jenkins (Adel)

R: Todd Goldstein (NM), Lachie Neale (Frem), Jack Steven (StK)

I/C: Matt Priddis (WC), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Luke Shuey (WCE), Patrick Cripps (Carl)

Sam Mitchell dominated in the centre for the Hawks this season. Picture: Michael Klein